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cnbc.com
Trump's past tax returns get protection from IRS enforcement under 'lawfare' fund settlement
President Trump agreed to drop his lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for a fund that can compensate allies who were targeted under the Biden administration.
cnbc.com
Oil ticks lower as investors weigh mixed signals from Trump on whether U.S. will resume Iran war
Oil prices fell after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would postpone a planned military strike on Iran following requests from key Middle Eastern leaders.
cnbc.com
Google debuts new AI models, personal AI agents in effort to keep pace with OpenAI and Anthropic
Google made a number of AI announcements at its annual developer conference, rolling out more-advanced models and agentic tools for its expansive user base.
theguardian.com
Can Burnham turn ‘Manchesterism’ into a practical offer for government?
Roots of idea for ‘ending neoliberalism’ have been growing over many months – with many different influencesManchesterism is “the end of neoliberalism”. That was the claim made by Andy Burnham in his campaign launch video this week – a film which made an audacious offer not just to his byelection constituents in Makerfield, but how he intended to change national politics and the economy.But the 2026 doctrine of Manchesterism is very different to its 19th-century namesake, when it was a byword for free trade. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Faisal Islam: Why a full HS2 line could still be built despite the latest fiasco
The Transport Secretary has said the high-speed rail line will not be completed until 2039.
bbc.com
Supermarkets urged to limit food prices by government
Any price caps would be voluntary apply to key groceries such as eggs, bread, and milk, the BBC understands.
bbc.com
NS&I to begin contacting victims of lost funds scandal
Over 30,000 estates could not be accessed due to an error identifying all of a late customer's NS&I products.
cnbc.com
30-year Treasury yield tops 5.19%, highest since before the financial crisis
Global bond markets remain on edge as traders monitor central bank responses to renewed inflation fears.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on saving for old age: alarming shortfalls set the scene for a pensions overhaul | Editorial
Auto-enrolment has made retirement more secure for many. But some groups, including women, need more support Recommendations from the government-backed Pensions Commission are not due until next year. But its interim warning that at least 15 million Britons are not saving enough for retirement already signals the scale of the challenge. The trend towards increasing longevity means that the issue of retirement incomes is unavoidable. At some point during the next decade, a threshold is expected to be reached whereby there are three pensioners for every 10 working-age adults.The decision to reconvene this expert group was a good one. The automatic enrolment system it proposed has been a success, with around 90% of eligible employees signing up since 2012, along with their employers. But millions of low-paid workers, as well as the vast majority of self-employed people, face an uncertain future unless they too are helped to plan and save. One suggestion, made by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) as part of its own pensions review, was that HM Revenue and Customs could oversee a system whereby self-employed taxpayers would be enabled to make pension contributions at the same time as paying their tax bill.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
NS&I to contact bereaved families owed £367m after missing savings scandal
The bank’s interim chief executive says ‘this issue should never have happened’, but warns it may take time to process claimsNational Savings and Investments bank will start to contact thousands of families affected by a missing savings scandal next week, as it confirmed how much they are owed.In March, the chief executive of the state-backed bank was forced out after it emerged there had been long-running problems with the tracing of accounts belonging to customers who had died. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Son of Mango fashion chain founder arrested in Spain over father’s death
Jonathan Andic released on €1m bail after being questioned in connection with death of Isak Andic in 2024The son of Isak Andic, the founder of the fashion chain Mango, has been released on bail of €1m (£866,000) after being arrested and questioned in connection with his father’s death in Catalonia almost 18 months ago.Andic died in December 2024 after apparently falling 100 metres down a ravine while hiking in Montserrat, near Barcelona, with his son, Jonathan. His death aged 71 prompted tributes to him from politicians, journalists and the fashion world. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK supermarkets urged to consider voluntary price caps on essential foods
Retail sources rebuff government proposal as ‘unjustified’ and likely to push costs up across boardUK supermarkets have been asked by the government to consider freezing the prices of some essential foodstuffs to protect the public from inflation fuelled by the Middle East conflict.Retailers rejected the plan, criticising its potential cost amid rising taxes, fuel and energy costs and arguing it could push up prices for shoppers overall. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump says he was 'an hour away' from Iran strike decision before he postponed it
Asked how long Iran has to come to the table, Trump said it could be two or three days, or perhaps until Sunday or early next week.
theguardian.com
Police to seek criminal charges against 77 companies and people over Grenfell fire
Scotland Yard to send files to CPS with ‘strong evidence’ of potential wrongdoing – but any trials could be years awayScotland Yard has said it hopes to bring criminal charges against 77 companies and individuals for the Grenfell Tower fire, but trials will not start until a decade after the disaster that killed 72 people.The Guardian understands a king’s counsel, a senior lawyer experienced in prosecutions, has been appointed to lead the crown’s criminal cases, which are expected to be complex and possibly last years. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Billionaire Trump donor in line to make millions from Thames Water bid
Paul Singer is founder of a leading creditor in the hedge fund consortium locked in talks with the UK governmentA billionaire Donald Trump donor could make millions from a deal being struck between the government and Thames Water.The UK’s largest water company, ministers and creditors are in a impasse as they try to agree a rescue deal to stave off Thames’s collapse. The water company built up a £17.6bn debt pile in the decades after its privatisation. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Anthropic hires OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy, former Tesla AI leader
Andrej Karpathy, an artificial intelligence researcher who co-founded OpenAI before getting poached by Tesla, said he's joining Anthropic.
cnbc.com
Trump says it's not a 'war.' Insurers with money on the line say it is
Businesses in the Middle East bought insurance that protects against terrorism or sabotage, but far fewer purchased coverage explicitly designed to cover "war."
cnbc.com
Bessent urges G7 to help U.S. attack Iran's finances
The Iran war continues to wreak havoc on global oil supply and the broader economy, even as the conflict appears to be locked in an uneasy stalemate.
cnbc.com
Home Depot says core shopper is resilient in the face of higher gas prices, sales rise 5%
Home Depot beat Wall Street's expectations on the top and bottom lines, even as some shoppers pulled back on larger projects.
bbc.com
Son of Mango boss arrested over father's fatal fall from cliff
Isak, 71, died in December 2024 after falling from a ravine while walking in the Montserrat mountains near Barcelona.
cnbc.com
Prosthetics firm's stock plunges as it denies short-seller's Russia 'propaganda' allegations
German prosthetics firm Ottobock fell over 10% on Tuesday in the wake of a report published by US-based hedge fund Grizzly Research.
bbc.com
Petrol hits highest price since start of Iran war
The average price of unleaded has risen to 158.52p a litre, according to the RAC, who warn that it could rise further in the coming weeks.
bbc.com
What's happening to UK petrol and diesel prices?
Motoring group RAC warns pump prices could keep rising if there is no resolution to the Iran war.
cnbc.com
Japan, China lead foreign government retreat from U.S. Treasurys as Iran war fallout stokes currency fears
The sell-off came as the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict and resulting surge in crude oil prices sent the yen and other Asian currencies tumbling.
bbc.com
HS2 could cost up to £102.7bn and trains will be slower than first planned
The new cost range and train speed are being announced as a "reset" of the delayed, over-budget and vastly scaled-back project is carried out.
theguardian.com
Energy bills will rise by £209 a year to £1,850 from July, forecaster says
Cornwall Insight predicts rise in price cap of nearly 13% in Great Britain as Iran war pushes up gas costsEnergy bills for households in Great Britain could increase by more than £200 a year to almost £1,900 from this summer in “a kick in the teeth” for millions struggling with the cost of living crisis.A typical gas and electricity bill is forecast to rise to the equivalent of £1,850 a year from July under the industry regulator Ofgem’s quarterly price cap, according to analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight. Continue reading...
bbc.com
St Brelade concerns of empty shops and cost of living
People say they are frustrated families have to turn to food banks in a "rich island like Jersey".
bbc.com
Swatch boss says crowds are 'good news' after watch launch sparks chaos
Nick Hayek Jr says the pocket watch launch saw "overcrowding like hell" at a small number of its UK stores.
cnbc.com
Cuba condemns U.S. sanctions, accuses Washington of building ‘fraudulent case’ for military action
The comments come after a fresh wave of U.S. sanctions and amid mounting speculation that the U.S. could carry out military strikes against Cuba.
cnbc.com
The AI economy is rewriting the American Dream — and blue-collar workers are poised to win
AI-driven hiring slowdowns are hitting some entry-level jobs for college graduates as companies like Ford and AT&T ramp up recruiting for skilled trade workers.
theguardian.com
HS2 bill could rise to £102bn with first trains delayed until 2039, government admits
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander blames Conservative government for ‘obscene increase in times and costs’The HS2 high-speed railway will now cost up to £102.7bn and trains will not start running between London and Birmingham until as late as 2039, the government has admitted – £70bn more and 13 years later than originally promised.The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said the truncated railway would not be entirely completed until as late as 2043. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Old Spanish Hen? Estrella owner buys Greene King ale brand
Pub owner’s sale to Barcelona-based brewer Damm is latest takeover of a British beer by an overseas buyerPub chain Greene King has agreed to sell its Old Speckled Hen ale brands to the Spanish owner of Estrella lager, making it the latest in a series of British beers to be snapped up by overseas buyers.Barcelona-based brewer Damm has agreed to buy all the Old Speckled Hen lines, including its non-alcoholic and golden ale versions. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Billionaires are trying to lull us into AI complacency. Don’t let them | Steven Greenhouse
As resistance to datacenters grows, Musk and others are painting a rosy picture. But the US must institute protectionsAs Americans grow increasingly worried that AI will wipe out millions of jobs and create a permanent new underclass, tech billionaires are rushing to reassure us not to worry – the subtext being: please don’t bring out the anti-AI pitchforks.Even Elon Musk, who recently merged SpaceX with his AI company, has joined the effort, essentially telling people “don’t worry, be happy” about AI. Musk wrote last month that “Universal HIGH INCOME via checks issued by the Federal government” would save everyone thrown out of work by AI.Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labor and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Putin in Beijing: 3 things Russia needs from China
Russia will be looking for energy and trade deals with China, as well as continuing geopolitical support.
cnbc.com
SpaceX’s ‘otherworldly’ debut could squeeze the oxygen from Europe’s IPO market, analysts say
Elon Musk's SpaceX, expected to debut next month, could squeeze investor demand for other IPOs.
cnbc.com
Indian stock exchange CEO says domestic investors saved markets from ‘freefall’
Domestic investors have kept Indian equity market from a sharp correction, as foreign investors have turned bearish.
bbc.com
New High Street crime unit to target gangs fronting shops after BBC investigation
It follows BBC News exposing drug gangs, money laundering, immigration crime, and ghost directors linked to shop fronts.
cnbc.com
NATO’s newest member Sweden announces $4 billion defense investment; Saab pops 5%
Sweden joined the military alliance in 2024 after it said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had changed the security landscape.
cnbc.com
2026 CNBC Disruptor 50: See the full list of companies, rankings, and a new leader in the AI race
CNBC reveals the 2026 Disruptor 50 list led by an increasingly powerful and highly valued group of AI companies.
theguardian.com
Standard Chartered to cut more than 7,000 jobs as it steps up AI use
London-headquartered bank will reduce back-office jobs and aims to move some workers to new rolesStandard Chartered plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs over the next four years as it increasingly uses artificial intelligence.The London-headquartered lender is one of the first major global banks to lay out plans to cut thousands of jobs, citing AI as a driver to make its operations slimmer as it seeks to increase its profitability and tackle competition. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Swinney defends food prices policy ahead of first minister vote
The SNP leader says the proposed price cap on basic foodstuffs is not intended to force a fight with the UK government.
cnbc.com
Blackstone to invest $5 billion in AI infrastructure venture with Google, powered by TPU chips
Blackstone is partnering with Google to launch a U.S.-based AI infrastructure company powered by Google’s TPU chips.
bbc.com
'I sold it for over £1k': Why people want new Swatch
The launch of an exclusive pocket watch has sparked a frenzy that forced stores worldwide to close and in some cases saw police officers and security deal with huge unruly crowds.
bbc.com
Elon Musk has lost yet another legal battle. Why he'll still keep fighting
Musk has lost his high-profile lawsuit against OpenAI, but is not likely to change his aggressive style.
cnbc.com
The Iran war is exposing weak spots in the AI supply chain
Stocks continue to rally amid the AI boom, but the chip sector is scrambling to shore up access to key materials as costs rise.
cnbc.com
Asia markets trade mixed as oil eases after Trump delays planned Iran strike
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday, amid lower oil prices after President Donald Trump said he is postponing a scheduled attack on Iran
bbc.com
UK unemployment rate unexpectedly rises
The number of UK job vacancies also fell to its lowest level in five years as the initial impact of the Iran war on businesses starts to be seen.
theguardian.com
UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% as firms squeezed by Iran war
Pay growth eases to 3.4% as businesses face pressure from soaring energy costsAnalysis: No feelgood factor for ReevesUnemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures, in the first snapshot of how companies are reacting to the impact of the Iran war.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment was up in the three months to March, from 4.9% in the three months to February, a rate that City economists had expected to hold steady. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
No feelgood factor for Reeves as Iran war snuffs out economic upturn
Rise in unemployment and weak pay growth underline how tough this year will be for UK householdsUK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5%News that the UK unemployment rate jumped back to 5% in March appears to be the latest evidence that the Iran war has snuffed out the economic upturn Rachel Reeves had hoped to see in 2026.The Office for National Statistics reports that, after an unexpected fall in the unemployment rate to 4.9% in last month’s data, it ticked back up to 5% between January and March – the first set of figures affected by the conflict. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Wes Streeting’s Brexit play may be clever gamesmanship – but it has nothing to do with Europe | Anand Menon
Ten years after the referendum, its role as domestic football is still the order of the day – and the ex-health secretary is happy to use it in his leadership bidAnand Menon is director of The UK in a Changing EuropeBrexit, it seems, is back. Or at least back within the Labour party. Wes wants to be back in (at some point). Andy once said there’s a case, but seems to have changed his mind. Nigel, meanwhile, warns of betrayal.On one hand, this is all terribly predictable. Winning any Labour leadership race was never going to be possible without staking out a clear and ambitious position on the EU. Most Labour members are remain backers who regret leaving Europe. Even before the beginning of a formal contest, we were always going to see those vying for the top job try to outbid each other. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
At least 15m Britons not saving enough to retire, Pensions Commission says
Just 4% of self-employed workers are putting cash into pensions, with ‘large groups across the UK facing a severe cliff-edge’Millions of people across Britain are facing a “cliff edge” when they retire due to a chronic shortfall in saving that will require a radical shake-up of the pensions system to fix, a government-backed report has warned.The Pensions Commission said 15 million people were currently not saving adequately for their retirement, and warned this could rise to as many as 19 million without action. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Starbucks Korea sacks CEO over controversial 'Tank Day' promotion
Starbucks withdrew the campaign for its drink tumblers after many said it referenced a bloody crackdown.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: 'Strategic triangle' put to the test
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Beijing, hoping to secure ties with China and clinch crucial energy deals.
theguardian.com
Tax-free childcare: up to £2,000 a year is on offer – but claiming isn’t easy
Many families struggle to understand how the system works and how it could affect any benefits they claimAny parent who has ever used the UK government’s tax-free childcare system knows what a painful experience it is. Each month when I log into my account, I feel a sense of dread and frustration. Why is something that is such a lifeline for so many parents so difficult to use?The scheme gives working parents an extra £2 for every £8 they spend on childcare. You can claim up to £2,000 a year for each child (or up to £4,000 a year for a disabled child). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Fears of new China shock as EU industry’s reliance on imports grows
Rising volume of components imported from China prompts warning of cannibalisation of European industriesEurope is facing a fresh China shock that threatens to cannibalise local factories, leading to job losses and de facto colonisation of industry by Beijing, trade analysts and representatives have said.They fear the plunging exchange rate and support for Chinese “zombie firms” has echoes of the crisis in the US 25 years ago when the term “China shock” was coined. It referred to the impact of China bursting on to the global trade stage after becoming a member of the World Trade Organization, with soaring imports displacing local industries and causing the loss of up to 2.5m jobs. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Standard Chartered to cut over 15% of corporate functions roles as it targets higher returns
Standard Chartered will trim corporate functions roles and target a more than 20% increase in income per employee by 2028 as it seeks stronger returns.
cnbc.com
After U.S. SEC, Treasury and Justice Department offer billionaire Gautam Adani legal relief
The U.S. Treasury Department settled a case against Adani Enterprises, involving the purchase of sanctioned Iranian energy between November 2023 and June 2025.
cnbc.com
Japan's economy grows at annualized 2.1% rate in first quarter, beating expectations
The growth was sharply higher compared with Reuters-polled analysts' average estimate of 1.7%, and against the 1.3% in the previous quarter.
bbc.com
Standard Chartered to cut thousands of roles as AI use increases
The UK-headquartered banking giant aims to move some of the effected workers to other roles in the business.
theguardian.com
Farage’s undisclosed £5m gift – podcast
Anna Isaac on Nigel Farage’s response to the Guardian revelation that he was given an undisclosed £5m gift from a crypto billionaire in 2024Just weeks before Nigel Farage decided to run as an MP in the 2024 general election, he accepted a £5m gift from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.“When MPs become members of parliament, they are given a copy of the code of conduct,” the Guardian’s City editor, Anna Isaac, tells Annie Kelly. “These are the rules that every MP has to adhere to. And in that code of conduct it says that you need to declare benefits and financial interests. So within 28 days of becoming an MP, you need to go back through your books, through your finances for 12 months beforehand.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Bonds sell-off, markets dip, oil worries loom — and Trump postpones Iran attack
Asia markets were mixed ahead of the highly anticipated Trump-Xi talks.
cnbc.com
Putin heads to Beijing days after Trump in test of China's balancing act
Beijing walks into the summit with the stronger hand while Moscow seeks reassurance that China has not drifted toward Washington after Trump's visit.
theguardian.com
How Sam Altman’s victory over Elon Musk clears way for OpenAI’s trillion-dollar ambitions
OpenAI’s plans now seem all but guaranteed, given that the world’s richest man couldn’t put a stop to themOn Monday morning, a jury in Oakland, California, handed a resounding victory to Sam Altman and OpenAI in their long, bitter courtroom battle with Elon Musk.The federal jury found Altman, OpenAI and its president, Greg Brockman, not liable for Elon Musk’s claims that they unjustly enriched themselves and broke a founding contract made with Musk when founding the startup. The unanimous verdict, delivered after less than two hours of deliberation, is a stark rebuke of Musk and his lawyer’s claims that Altman “stole a charity” through his leadership of OpenAI. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Robo-top: The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: Three major shifts from the Trump-Xi meeting
The U.S. and Chinese readouts agree on one phrase: constructive strategic stability.
cnbc.com
Trump says he's postponing 'scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow' at Middle East leaders' request
The U.S. and Iran are in a stalemate centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the global oil pathway whose closure due to the war has caused an energy supply shock.
bbc.com
Musk loses OpenAI court battle after jury finds he waited too long to sue
Jurors spent weeks hearing about Musk's claim that Altman had "stolen a charity."
bbc.com
Faisal Islam: Burnham seeks to calm markets by committing to fiscal rules
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is looking to manage the markets as well as the Makerfield byelection
bbc.com
Oil price slumps as Trump says he called off Iran attacks
Energy markets have been on a wild ride as the key Strait of Hormuz waterway remains effectively closed.
bbc.com
PlayStation Plus to raise monthly subscription fee
The video game firm says the increase is due to "ongoing market conditions".
theguardian.com
Farage claim he bought £1.4m house with I’m a Celebrity fee under scrutiny
Accounts for Reform UK leader’s media company suggest money was not withdrawn at time of property purchase Nigel Farage is facing fresh scrutiny over his claim that he paid for his £1.4m house from a reality show fee rather than the millions gifted to him by a crypto billionaire.Accounts for the Reform leader’s personal media company, Thorn in the Side Ltd, suggest that money was not withdrawn from the firm at the time of the house purchase. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
New bill will downgrade the role of the Financial Ombudsman Service | Letter
Iain Ramsay draws attention to the enhancing financial services bill and the influence of finance industry lobbying in proposed reforms that could be affect consumersPress reports on the king’s speech, including in the Guardian (The king’s speech: what is the government’s legislative agenda for the next 12 months?, 13 May), gave little coverage to the proposed enhancing financial services bill, a central part of which will downgrade the role of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).Cloaked in the guise of “modernisation”, the proposals reflect pure interest-group lobbying by the finance industry, which already exercises substantial influence on policy. Given that the costs of consumer redress may be concentrated in a few large firms, they have a strong incentive to participate in the policy process. In contrast, consumers of financial products have diffuse concerns and more limited expertise, and face high organisational costs. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Whitbread’s reset is slow. But angry US hedge fund doesn’t have a better idea | Nils Pratley
Demand for ‘formal sale’ is odd for slew of reasons including five-year plan analysts say is ‘sensible, credible and material’The big strategy reset a fortnight ago from Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, got a ho-hum response from the stock market for understandable reasons. The company said shutting Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, or converting the space to hotel rooms, would involve upfront costs. Most of the goodies in the five-year plan, launched only two years after the last one, are intended to come towards the end of the period, which makes them less certain in the eyes of the market.The big prize, according to Whitbread’s chief executive, Dominic Paul, would be an improvement in annual returns on capital from a pedestrian 11% to a decent 16%. But shareholders, already digesting a whack from Rachel Reeves’s changes to business rates, would have to wait a while for the “higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business” to appear. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I sold it for over £1k': Swatch launch sparks 'chaotic' scenes
Some shoppers have been trying to resell a new line of watches priced at £335 each for up to £16,000.
theguardian.com
Could the UK really rejoin the EU? – The Latest
The Brexit debate has been reignited after Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting called it a ‘catastrophic mistake’ and said the UK should rejoin the European Union. His comments put pressure on rival Andy Burnham, who has previously advocated for rejoining the bloc but is fighting a byelection in the leave-voting Makerfield constituency. But how would rejoining work and would the EU even agree to it? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley Continue reading...
theguardian.com
HS2: Heidi Alexander to set out true cost of rail project – and when trains will begin to run
Transport secretary to give budget details of troubled high-speed line, which backers hope will stay well below £100bnThe latest estimate of the cost of HS2 and a timetable to complete construction of the high-speed railway will be set out by the government on Tuesday, including plans to run trains slower to trim costs.The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, is expected to give the first official reckoning of the troubled project’s budget in 2026 prices, which HS2’s backers hope will remain substantially below £100bn. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How realistic is threat of Iran charging to use internet cables under strait of Hormuz?
Plan floated in Iranian media to extract revenues from US tech firms would rely on intimidation and is legally dubiousCould undersea cables – the sinews of the global internet – become the next frontier in the US-Israel war against Iran?Last week, two Iranian state-linked media channels, Tasnim and Fars, suggested Iran could leverage its power over the strait of Hormuz, the 25-mile (40km) stretch between Iran and Oman, by charging US tech companies to use the internet cables that traverse the strait. Tasnim implied this could be a lucrative proposition, netting Iran hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why are people so excited about Swatch's Royal Pop watch?
A watch range by Swatch and luxury brand Audemars Piguet is causing a frenzy as people queue for days to get their hands on one.
theguardian.com
Starmer says he wants closer relations with EU but dismisses talk of rejoining – video
The prime minister said he had 'completely reset our relations with our EU partners' but dismissed talk of rejoining as a debate that may or may not happen 'years down the line' Continue reading...
bbc.com
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt booed by graduates at mention of AI
The reaction underscores a growing anxiety among students over AI's impact on jobs and their future careers.
theguardian.com
Reeves poised to cancel planned fuel duty rise to help with cost of living
Chancellor has been under pressure to extend 5p temporary cut at an estimated cost to government of £2.4bn a yearRachel Reeves is planning to cancel a rise in fuel duty this week when she unveils a package of measures to reduce the cost of living.The chancellor will announce she will not put up the tax by 1p as was due to happen in September, government sources said, and she could cancel all of a 5p rise that is due to happen in stages over the subsequent six months. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Du pain, de la bière, du Boursin? Why the French are now drinking more beer than wine
For the first time ever, beer has overtaken wine as the drink of choice in France. Bad news for national identity, but potentially good news in terms of alcohol consumptionName: French beerAge: About 11,700 years. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Is the UK's once favourite car coming back as an EV?
The company has announced plans to build seven new models in Europe including a small electric hatchback.
theguardian.com
‘Absolutely beautiful’ but no shops for miles: the Cotswolds’ rural food deserts
Deep-rooted problems of food inequality are hidden behind area’s affluence and beautyRural Britain is becoming ‘food desert’ for lower-income families, study findsWhat does a “food desert” look like? In the case of the modestly affluent Cotswolds village of Kempsford, very pretty. When I visit the sun is shining from cloudless blue skies on to lovely honey-coloured stone houses, some draped in purple wisteria.Aside from the loud hum of US air force planes revving up at the nearby Fairford airbase it’s a picture of rural calm. There’s a primary school and a pub. A house on the main street is called “The Old Bakery”. But there is no shop selling food for miles. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Rural Britain is becoming ‘food desert’ for lower-income families, study finds
Closure of local shops and poor public transport leave households struggling to access healthy and affordable food‘Absolutely beautiful’ but no shops for miles: the Cotswolds’ rural food desertsRural Britain is becoming a “food desert” for lower-income families as the closure of local shops and poor public transport leaves them at disproportionately high risk of hunger and cost of living pressures, research shows.Over half of households with an annual income of under £40,000 a year living in the countryside struggle to access affordable and healthy food including fresh fruit and vegetables, the University of Sheffield study estimates. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Tube strikes called off by RMT union
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union calls off a series of 24-hour strikes starting on Tuesday.
theguardian.com
Purple pain: backlash over Mexico City’s ‘axolotlisation’ for World Cup
Mayor’s attempt to beautify the city with murals of mascot and plum paint jobs criticised as waste of resourcesThe giant purple axolotl peered up at Manuel Martínez from the black bitumen of the street. It was the second such painting of the rare amphibian he had walked past that morning. In recent weeks he had seen axolotl murals pop up in neighbourhoods across Mexico City.“It’s a waste of money,” he said. “You could use that budget for fixing potholes, traffic lights, security cameras. They’re spending on something that doesn’t benefit us at all – it’s just for tourists.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK growth forecast upgraded by IMF but risks remain
Growth has been upgraded from 0.8% to 1% for 2026 in the influential body's latest forecast.
theguardian.com
‘Capitalism has to become more humane’: a Stanford economist on big tech, power hoarding and democracy
Mordecai Kurz argues tech oligarchs erode democracy through monopolies – and predicts how the trend may endThe billionaires of today are unusually aggressive in their hoarding of cultural and technological influence, according to Mordecai Kurz, a Stanford economist whose research connects monopoly power with political and economic inequality. In his new book, Private Power and Democracy’s Decline, publishing 19 May, he argues the US is living through an extreme version of a pattern that has repeated itself since industrialization: technological power concentrating in the hands of a few, which is eroding democracy.According to Kurz, technological moguls have long seen themselves as superior beings whose natural role is to shape society – so they have no problem disrupting the institution of democracy. During the first Gilded Age, in the late 19th century, as the US was enjoying its first ascent as an industrial powerhouse, wealthy industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and John D Rockefeller “invented all kinds of theories about human evolution”, twisting the logic of social Darwinism to convince themselves that their success was a sign they had been selected by nature to influence society, Kurz explained. Now, the Anthropic CEO, Dario Amodei, has suggested his technology has a mystical potential to become a transcendent good. He has also openly acknowledged it could lead to mass unemployment. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Weight-loss wars go global as Novo Nordisk bets big on its Wegovy pill
The weight loss pill had a strong U.S. launch this year, and Novo believes that will be replicated in other markets around the world.
bbc.com
HS2 failings blamed on high-speed focus and political pressure
A new reviews confirms the high-speed rail line's "original sins" include a technical design, changing political priorities and ballooning costs.
theguardian.com
‘You can bet on it’: Utah lawmakers form united front in push to ban prediction markets
Utah’s heavily Mormon population is largely opposed to all gambling, even on financial exchange platformsUtah is home to some of the strongest anti-gambling laws in the US, with vehement opposition dating back more than a century. But as prediction markets have surged – allowing users to bet on almost anything, from elections to sports to geopolitical events – the state has not escaped the nationwide boom.Its Republican leaders are fighting back, setting up a battle between one of the country’s most conservative states and a rapidly growing industry that is embraced by a Republican administration in Washington – and members of the US president’s own family. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
A house for £1? What a day at a property auction taught me about the UK housing crisis
Some of the homes have been repossessed, while others are being sold off by debt-laden housing associations. Who buys them – and who will end up living there?Amid the high-stakes bustle of numbered paddles shooting up and gavels banging down, an unexpected voice calls desperately from the corner of the auction room. “That’s my house,” shouts the woman, watching her home of 20 years up for sale.“I live there. You can tell the people who are bidding I’m not coming out of my house,” she continues. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Instant AI answers can trivialise human intelligence, warns Royal Observatory
Paddy Rodgers said the Observatory's rich history showed the power of human knowledge and the need to avoid "dependence" on AI.
theguardian.com
Footage from Qantas flight shows man's heated exchange with cabin crew – video
Footage uploaded to social media by comedian Mike Goldstein shows a man in a heated exchange with cabin crew, repeatedly telling them to 'fuck off' when they ask him to move to the back of the plane. Standing in the aisle, he appears to be stumbling and slurring his words, telling a flight attendant he wants to 'walk out for a ciggie'. The QF21 flight departed Melbourne bound for Dallas on Friday, but was diverted to Papeete in Tahiti. The captions on this video were created by the uploader of the visionPassenger banned from Qantas after allegedly biting attendant on flight from Australia to US Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
The internet giant dwarfs other online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.
theguardian.com
BA’s ‘no-show’ clause cost me £9,000 for new flights
We cut out one leg of our journey, but a clause allows airlines to cancel a whole journey if a passenger misses just one legTo celebrate my 60th birthday, we used an inheritance to book flights from Glasgow to Mexico City via Heathrow, where our son was to join us.We worried that the transfer time of 90 minutes at Heathrow would be tight, given that there had been storms that week, so in the end, my husband, daughter and I instead took a train from Glasgow the night before. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Rise in solar panel sales as people 'want to save money'
One director, who has just bought 2,000 panels, hopes to safeguard the company's future bills.
theguardian.com
‘The end of the road’: the man on a mission to take Barcelona back from overtourism
José Antonio Donaire is not against tourists but wants to return the city to its residents – and he is starting with its most iconic marketAfter decades of relentlessly marketing their vibrant Mediterranean city, the Barcelona authorities have appointed a man on a mission to say “no more” – and, he says, to return its most iconic market back to local residents.Last year, the Barcelona area attracted 26 million visitors, up 2.4% on 2024. The appointment of José Antonio Donaire as the city’s first commissioner for sustainable tourism represents a significant change of heart and a shift away from viewing tourism as an unalloyed good to believing it is alienating citizens and eroding the Catalan capital’s identity. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Government-backed Pensions Commission calls for action on gender savings gap
Body says, on average, British women approaching retirement have half private pension savings of men – £81,000 versus £156,000A shake-up of pensions in Britain must involve measures to close the gap in retirement savings between men and women, the revived Pensions Commission is to tell ministers.According to the government-backed body, women approaching retirement have on average half the private pension savings of men, with a median pension wealth of £81,000 versus £156,000. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
The Climate Question
How Thailand and Vietnam are seeing rapid growth in EV sales and manufacturing
theguardian.com
Will a Nationwide customer’s boardroom challenge shake up UK corporate governance?
A decade after Theresa May spoke of radical reform, the mutual faces a bid that is testing the limits of democracyIn July 2016, in a canalside conference centre in central Birmingham, Theresa May took the stage for a speech that would formally launch her Tory leadership bid.The home secretary of six years was seen as a safe pair of hands, including by the business community still reeling from the shock result of the Brexit referendum. What business had not banked on, though, was a social reform platform that would see May pledge to rein in corporate Britain and give workers and consumers seats on company boards. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Robert paid £726 to skip the driving test waiting list. New laws mean others won't be able to
The government is cracking down on third parties who use bots to buy tests and resell them at inflated prices.
bbc.com
'They took £20,000 I didn't owe': Parents hit by child maintenance errors
John Hammond is one of 30 parents who told BBC Your Voice they'd experienced problems with the CMS.
bbc.com
Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.
bbc.com
Big tech bets on new mascots in bid to seem more cuddly
The likes of Apple, Microsoft and Google are all putting cartoon characters centre stage.
bbc.com
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
bbc.com
Not so dusty: How tech is changing woodworking
Woodworking shops have been transformed by tech to make tools safer and more precise.
bbc.com
Cyber-crime increasingly coming with threats of physical violence
While hackers used to sneak into computer systems, intimidation of staff is now more common.
bbc.com
How sunburn inspired a new way to store energy
Molecules that can capture heat could be a useful technology to decarbonise heating.
bbc.com
How Sir David Attenborough built 'Green Hollywood'
The city is responsible for 80% of the world's natural history TV shows.
bbc.com
Gulf economies face long-term hit from Iran conflict
Commentators say it will take years or even decades to repair the damage.
bbc.com
Robots move in as waste firms struggle to find staff
Humanoid robots are being added to the automation of waste sorting.
bbc.com
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
bbc.com
Will AI lead to more accurate opinion polls?
It's cheaper and faster to collect people's opinions using AI, but will it make polls more accurate?
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
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